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Afghan government to launch HIV treatment program

Politics Materials 14 January 2009 11:46 (UTC +04:00)

Afghanistan, Kabul, January. 14/ Trend , A. Hakimi /

For the first time in Afghanistan, HIV/AIDS-infected individuals will receive anti-retroviral therapy from the government, the health ministry announced recently.

According to reports, roughly 500 people have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Afghanistan. There are an additional 2,000 undocumented HIV/AIDS cases nationwide, although accurate estimates are difficult to obtain.

The program will begin next year. Forty people will be treated for the first time, the ministry said.

Head of the ministry's HIV/AIDS program Saif ur-Rehman said $50,000 has been allocated for anti-retroviral treatment. He added that the ministry "will provide more treatment in the future to improve patients' immune system against the HIV virus."

Saif ur-Rehman said 60 percent of those infected contracted the disease through intravenous drug use.

The ongoing war in Afghanistan has forced many Afghans to migrate to neighboring countries ane tolerate poor living conditions. This has made them more vulnerable to the disease, he added.

When these refugees return home, at times they bring HIV/AIDS with them.

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